Happiness in this World

Happiness

The New Psychology of Happiness

Alex Lickerman M.D. on September 30, 2018

Happiness is something we all want, yet many of us fail to achieve. Look around: How many people do you know who exude joy on a daily basis?

Happiness is something we all want, yet many of us fail to achieve. Look around: How many people do you know who exude joy on a daily basis?

A number of years ago, a patient of mine was diagnosed with lung cancer. A metastatic work up revealed a small mass in his liver that had a benign radiographic appearance.

In recent years, interest in intermittent fasting—that is, not eating at all for a certain number of days per week—has been increasing.

Dementia

Too Much Medical Care

Alex Lickerman M.D. on October 10, 2016

Not long ago, one of my elderly patients (who gave me permission to tell this story) began requiring blood transfusions for a condition known as ischemic colitis.

Not long ago, one of my elderly patients (who gave me permission to tell this story) began requiring blood transfusions for a condition known as ischemic colitis.

Anxiety

The Problem with Obstacles

Alex Lickerman M.D. on July 24, 2016

I recently wanted to prescribe a medication called Prevacid for a patient. It's a proton pump inhibitor that shuts off acid production in the stomach.

I recently wanted to prescribe a medication called Prevacid for a patient. It's a proton pump inhibitor that shuts off acid production in the stomach.

Caregiving

The Caregiver's Manifesto

Alex Lickerman M.D. on May 15, 2016

How many patients have I known over the years who've found themselves caught in the quicksand that is caring for a chronically ill loved one? Too many to count, so I'll recount

How many patients have I known over the years who've found themselves caught in the quicksand that is caring for a chronically ill loved one? Too many to count, so I'll recount

Attention

Finding Balance

Alex Lickerman M.D. on February 28, 2016

Every once in a while (or perhaps more frequently than I’d like to admit) I find myself overwhelmed by my own life. Taking care of patients, blogging, writing,

Every once in a while (or perhaps more frequently than I’d like to admit) I find myself overwhelmed by my own life. Taking care of patients, blogging, writing,

Anxiety

Saving Primary Care

Alex Lickerman M.D. on November 29, 2015

The healthcare landscape in the U.S. seems to have changed more rapidly in the last two years than it has in the last two decades. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has mandated health insurance for all Americans and made it possible for approximately 30 million more of them to obtain it. While this is a welcome development, it poses a significant problem.

The healthcare landscape in the U.S. seems to have changed more rapidly in the last two years than it has in the last two decades. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has mandated health insurance for all Americans and made it possible for approximately 30 million more of them to obtain it. While this is a welcome development, it poses a significant problem.

Health

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and You

Alex Lickerman M.D. on September 13, 2015

Despite the public controversy over the safety of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), in the scientific community the controversy is considered misplaced. The National Academy of Sciences has reviewed the safety of GMOs twice, once in 2000 and again in 2004. Both reviews concluded that genetically modified crops pose no threat to human health

Despite the public controversy over the safety of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), in the scientific community the controversy is considered misplaced. The National Academy of Sciences has reviewed the safety of GMOs twice, once in 2000 and again in 2004. Both reviews concluded that genetically modified crops pose no threat to human health

Anxiety

At the End of Life

Alex Lickerman M.D. on August 1, 2015

When I was a third-year medical student rotating for the first time on a general medicine service inpatient ward, my team admitted a thirty-year-old woman in acute congestive heart failure. That a thirty-year-old was in congestive heart failure was unusual enough. Even more shocking was the cause: an echocardiogram revealed a tumor sitting on top of her mitral valve

When I was a third-year medical student rotating for the first time on a general medicine service inpatient ward, my team admitted a thirty-year-old woman in acute congestive heart failure. That a thirty-year-old was in congestive heart failure was unusual enough. Even more shocking was the cause: an echocardiogram revealed a tumor sitting on top of her mitral valve

Persuasion

The Power of Influence

Alex Lickerman M.D. on May 3, 2015

While I was growing up, my brothers (I'm the eldest of four boys) often chided me for being so much like my father. I suppose it was inevitable that I would be; firstborn children tend to be rule followers (if you believe in the significance of birth order) and I fit the stereotype.

While I was growing up, my brothers (I'm the eldest of four boys) often chided me for being so much like my father. I suppose it was inevitable that I would be; firstborn children tend to be rule followers (if you believe in the significance of birth order) and I fit the stereotype.

Depression

How to Help People Grieve

Alex Lickerman M.D. on February 22, 2015

After a prolonged, debilitating illness, two weeks ago my father--at long last--died. As a physician, I've observed many people experience loss, but this is the first time I've lost someone close to me. This has, not surprisingly, put me on the receiving end of many condolences. Yet unable to rid myself of my analytical mind even in the midst of grief, I've found myself

After a prolonged, debilitating illness, two weeks ago my father--at long last--died. As a physician, I've observed many people experience loss, but this is the first time I've lost someone close to me. This has, not surprisingly, put me on the receiving end of many condolences. Yet unable to rid myself of my analytical mind even in the midst of grief, I've found myself

Relationships

Can You Learn to Make Microcompromises?

Alex Lickerman M.D. on January 4, 2015

I've observed, both among my patients and my friends, that the issues which ultimately threaten to dismantle romantic relationships are almost always present from their beginning. These are typically issues that were overlooked or consciously ignored in the adrenaline rush of hope and desire that brooks no interference with the establishment of the relationship,

I've observed, both among my patients and my friends, that the issues which ultimately threaten to dismantle romantic relationships are almost always present from their beginning. These are typically issues that were overlooked or consciously ignored in the adrenaline rush of hope and desire that brooks no interference with the establishment of the relationship,

Somewhere around 2004 or so—I no longer remember the exact year—my father was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Anxiety

How To Tear Up The Good Guy Contract

Alex Lickerman M.D. on November 2, 2014

In a previous post, The Good Guy Contract, I wrote about the particular challenges faced by people dominated by their need to be liked by others. In that post I recounted my own inability to say "no" and then went on to describe my discovery of the reason for it: I'd signed a Good Guy Contract:

In a previous post, The Good Guy Contract, I wrote about the particular challenges faced by people dominated by their need to be liked by others. In that post I recounted my own inability to say "no" and then went on to describe my discovery of the reason for it: I'd signed a Good Guy Contract:

Fear

The Right Way to Think About Your Ebola Risk

Alex Lickerman M.D. on October 16, 2014

Ebola has riveted our attention: It's a deadly disease with no known cure, and as is true of most infectious diseases, it's easy to imagine how it could become a global pandemic and threaten us directly.

Ebola has riveted our attention: It's a deadly disease with no known cure, and as is true of most infectious diseases, it's easy to imagine how it could become a global pandemic and threaten us directly.

Education

How to Give Feedback

Alex Lickerman M.D. on September 28, 2014

My student's voice trembled as she answered my question. "How do you think you've done so far?" I'd asked her. We'd been together on the general medicine inpatient ward for two weeks—the midpoint of the rotation—and as was my usual custom I was giving her feedback on her performance by first asking her to rate her performance herself.

My student's voice trembled as she answered my question. "How do you think you've done so far?" I'd asked her. We'd been together on the general medicine inpatient ward for two weeks—the midpoint of the rotation—and as was my usual custom I was giving her feedback on her performance by first asking her to rate her performance herself.

Midlife

The Middle Age Spread And How To Combat It

Alex Lickerman M.D. on September 7, 2014

The reason so many people gain weight as they enter middle age is no mystery: if, as an example, you only eat 50 extra calories per day over a period of twenty years that you don't burn off by exercising, it will result in a weight gain of 104 pounds.

The reason so many people gain weight as they enter middle age is no mystery: if, as an example, you only eat 50 extra calories per day over a period of twenty years that you don't burn off by exercising, it will result in a weight gain of 104 pounds.

Gratitude

Why People Can Be Kinder to Strangers Than to Loved Ones

Alex Lickerman M.D. on July 13, 2014

Contrary to popular wisdom, the answer isn't that familiarity breeds contempt.

Contrary to popular wisdom, the answer isn't that familiarity breeds contempt.

Resilience

The Obstacle Is the Way

Alex Lickerman M.D. on May 4, 2014

What’s the worst problem you have right now? One of the most useful concepts I've adapted is the concept of changing poison into medicine.

What’s the worst problem you have right now? One of the most useful concepts I've adapted is the concept of changing poison into medicine.